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Increased surveillance by corporations and governments could threaten the future of a free and open Internet, warn experts.

Referencing leaks about cyber-snooping from former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, experts warned in a Pew survey that the monitoring of vast amounts of online activity will limit sharing and access to knowledge online. (Patrick Semansky / AP)

Increased surveillance by corporations and governments could erode the public’s trust and threaten a free and open Internet, warn experts surveyed by Pew Research Center.

Referencing leaks about cyber-snooping from former U.S. National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, experts surveyed for Net Threats, part of Pew’s Digital Life in 2025 series, warned that the monitoring of vast amounts of online activity will limit sharing and access to knowledge online — and cause the public’s trust in authorities to evaporate.

“Because of governance issues (and the international implications of the NSA reveals), data sharing will get geographically fragmented in challenging ways. The next few years are going to be about control,” said danah boyd, a research scientist for Microsoft.

Privacy in general is a concern amongst many in the industry. “Privacy issues are the most serious threat to accessing and sharing Internet content in 2014, and there is little reason to expect that to change by 2025, particularly given the cyber terror threats confronting the Internet users and worldwide businesses,” said Peter S. Vogel, Internet law expert at Gardere Wynne Sewell in Dallas.

Experts gathered in Toronto to debate the future of mobile recently voiced similar concerns over privacy. User trust is a major hurdle for the future of mobile, the Tech in Motion panel convened last week agreed. Apps created for consumers tend to have fewer security measures in place, said Toronto software developer Anluan O’Brien, who suggested that “lazy developers” are to blame for high-profile hacking incidents involving apps such as Snapchat and Yo.

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But it’s a two-way street. “What is the biggest threat to mobile security? The user,” says Toronto-based indie game designer Mickey MacDonald. More education on risky online behaviour is needed so that people can protect themselves online. The solution: Make security seamless and idiot-proof online, said BlackBerry developer Manny Elawar.

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